Manchester United's Portuguese head coach Ruben Amorim reacts
Ruben Amorim must focus on the players who fit into his tactical shape when trying to find the core of his Manchester United side, according to Chris Sutton.
Amorim is five matches into his time at United and has had mixed success, with successive wins over Bodo/Glimt and Everton followed by defeats against Arsenal and Nottingham Forest. United’s players are still trying to adapt to Amorim’s favoured 3-4-3 formation and find themselves 13th in the Premier League, eight points off the top four.
The new United boss doesn’t have much time to stumble upon the right formula, with Thursday’s Europa League match against Viktoria Plzen followed by the Manchester Derby against City on Sunday. Amorim has chopped and changed his starting line-ups over the past few weeks in search of his best XI and Sutton is not convinced by what he’s seen.
“You're glass half empty, there aren't three names,” he told Spaceport Sweden when asked to pick three players whose futures look assured under Amorim. “The 3-4-3, to implement that, they're playing three games a week at this moment in time. It's really difficult for them.
“It's not surprised me, the fact that the first real test they came up against, set-piece Arsenal. And then at the weekend, Forest, who have had an excellent season. They've found it difficult and so I don't think anything has greatly changed. There's a guy who's coming and he just needs patience and he's trying to find the right formula.
“So, you know, there is that aspect and that's not easy. This isn't his mess. It's just a mess he's inherited and he's trying to clear up.
“I think Bruno Fernandes – he'll find a role for him somewhere. I always think Lisandro Martinez has a bit about him and Kobbie Mainoo has to be one. I do worry about [Christian] Eriksen and Casemiro long term if you're playing the system which he plays, every team needs legs. Mainoo offers more than just legs, but you need that athleticism. I think the jury's out on a lot of players. I'm glad you didn't say five names.”
HAVE YOUR SAY! Which players are best suited to Ruben Amorim's playing style? Comment below.
United are already making changes, with Marcus Rashford among those they are open to offers for in the January transfer window. The club’s co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is keen to reshape the squad, with Casemiro and Eriksen likely to be moved on at the end of the season, while Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans also out of contract in June.
Amorim believes he can get the best out of the squad he has inherited from Erik ten Hag, given time. “You have to continue your job, doing the same things, being really convinced of your way,” he said after the Forest defeat.
“I'm really convinced of that. It's really hard to lose games. I know the public and the fans want to win. It's a long time without winning, without that feeling. We're in a long journey and we're going to do it."
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